Sexual Harassment at workplace is a violation of women’s right to gender equality, life and liberty. It creates an insecure and hostile work environment, which discourages women’s participation in work, thereby adversely affecting their economic empowerment and the goal of inclusive growth. However, there was no domestic law to address this issue except a few provisions of the Indian Penal Code and the Supreme Court Guidelines in the case of Vishaka vs. State of Rajasthan, until the Sexual Harassment at the Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 came into force on the 9th of December 2013. After decades of Vishaka Guidelines, the POSH Act has come into force.
The Act provides for Right to Protection for women against Sexual Harassment at their workplace. The rights given under the POSH Act are universally recognised human rights by international conventions and instruments such as Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women – ratified by the Govt. of India on June 25, 1993.
The Act mandates the employer to establish Internal Complaints Committee and conduct investigations on the Compliant filed, if any. For further details please write to tsg@tsgandco.com .
